Basic module showing details of the plywood beams together with the backboard.

Open-top Lightweight Plywood Beam Benchwork Modules

The above photo shows a typical basic module (without the boxes for the legs or the trackbed in place). The track bed will be constructed when all of the modules are in completed. The higher level base at the top end of the module (see photo below) is for the curve from the staging and will be concealed in the tunnel. The raised track section will butt up to this.

The rear backboard is constructed in exactly the same way as the front member but rather than being 1000mm high, it is about 350mm high.

Modules werelaid out on the floor prior to fitting the legs (to make sure they would fit in the room!).

My skills have improved tremendously since I constructed the Phase 1 benchwork. The modules are completely square and don't even need bolting together at the ends - they just butt up to each other perfectly. The main thing I learnt was to cut and construct a member and to fit it in place - square. After this, I cut and construct the next member to suit. This is then fitted in place before marking out and cutting the next member.

On phase 1, I made the mistake of simply cutting all of the members to the 'correct' size. Unfortunately, this did not take into account the tolerances of the materials. Cutting members to suit a given application means that these tolerances are taken into account.

oh well, we live and learn.

Detail of abutting modules.

Each member was cut to suit its specific location .

Legs are already on two of the modules. They slide into boxes in
the same way as the modules for Phase 1

Two of the modules on legs.

Detail of abutting modules.